Outpouring of support for State Library’s “heart and soul”

The cancellation of a plan that would see public-facing staff cut in favour of new digital services at the State Library Victoria has been met with relief by some high-profile opponents and the library workers’ union.

While CPSU Victoria warns “the fight is not over”, local writer Arnold Zable hopes the incident might be an opportunity for the library to engage its core users in finding a way forward.

When plans for significant service changes at State Library Victoria (SLV) were circulated among staff there last November they triggered opposition that was “fierce and loud”, according to the workers’ union.

The SLV Strategic Reorganisation Change Proposal reportedly involved cutting the number of reference librarians from 25 to 10 and replacing them with self-service options, as well as cutting the jobs of four full-time collections staff and seven officers who facilitate public access as well as reducing the number of public computers from the current 25.

Money would instead be channelled into new tech positions, “digital innovation” projects and “experiences”, CPSU Victoria said.

A report in The Age quoted an anonymous library source saying the SLV’s leadership was “trying to push through major ideological changes to how and why the library serves Victorians”.

A petition launched on change.org and another by the union calling on the library’s management to withdraw the proposal and hold a public meeting quickly attracted thousands of signatures.

Together, the petitions have now been signed by more than 15,000 people.

Separately, an open letter to the president of the SLV board signed by 280 high profile figures from the writing, academic and arts realm appeared online describing the library as “menaced” by management and advising concerned members of the public to protest to the Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks, the library board’s president Christine Christian, or CEO John Wicks.

“The State Library of Victoria was established in 1854. It was open to everyone over the age of fourteen with clean hands – the free public library was then a revolutionary concept,” the letter read.

“These days it is open to everyone, but is menaced by myopic management, an out-of-touch board and plunging staff morale.”

Less than 10 days later the State Library issued a statement announcing it was withdrawing the reorganisation proposal in order to “refine” its approach.

The plan had been misunderstood, the statement said, with elements of it generating “unintended concerns”; however, any revised version would be informed by the recent “consultation”.

“More Victorians are seeking new forms of digital access and expecting services that reflect contemporary learning and engagement,” the statement said. 

“To meet these expectations, we must continue to evolve … while remaining committed to our core purpose: supporting research, learning, public access to information and preserving Victoria’s treasures.”

According to local author Arnold Zable (pictured main), who joined the likes of JM Coetzee, Helen Garner and Nick Cave in signing the letter, the incident could in a way be seen as “a blessing in disguise”.

“I think there’s been a timely reminder to the board that this is a public institution,” Zable told CBD News.

The author of 10 memoirs, novels and story collections, almost all of which have involved some research at SLV, he began a love affair with the institution as a student at The University of Melbourne.

“From the beginning I was struck by the staff and the approach they have to their work,” he said.

Zable’s work invariably explores historical events, and he has many examples of librarians who have helped him in important ways over the years – with fragile old books, material provided unrequested and the unearthing of obscure content.

“They are the living foundation of this extraordinary place, the keepers of knowledge,” he said, adding that he had also observed the time and effort SLV librarians devoted to people who lack research skills or are pursuing particular projects.

“While all of these amazing developments in technology and communications have their positives, one thing they can’t replace is this face-to-face interaction,” Zable said.

In the wake of the campaign victory, those involved in fighting for it say they will remain watchful about what happens at the library.

“Despite the board’s withdrawal, our fight is not over,” CPSU Vic secretary Jiselle Hanna said. “We will continue to remain vigilant and support our members through any and all proposed changes at the State Library.”

For Zable, the situation also provides an opportunity. “Writers have said, ‘Well, look, we’re on alert now for what’s happening to this precious institution’.”

“But it doesn’t necessarily have to be confrontational, it can be something far better than that – a chance for consultation, conversation and finding a way forward that enables the library to keep evolving hand in hand with the heart and soul of the institution – its librarians, rather than radically changing direction.” •